Steelers DE Brett Keisel Feels Good, Thinks He Can Play A Couple More Years

Pittsburgh Steelers defensive end Brett Keisel is once again taking part in the Super Bowl festivities leading up to the game as a spokesmen for Head and Shoulders, and as result of that he is making the media rounds. On Tuesday, the bearded one was a guest on the SVP and Russillo Show on ESPN Radio and was asked if he still wants to play.

“I think I have a couple (years) left in me,” said Keisel, who will be an unrestricted free agent come the start of the new league year in march.

Keisel added that he feels good right now coming off of his 12th year in the league.

“I feel great and I still feel like I can play,” he said. “We’ll see what happens.”

During a recent conference call with season ticket holders, Steelers team president Art Rooney II was reportedly asked about Keisel and he said that the BYU product first needed to decide whether or not he wants to play. Rooney then went on to say that the organization would then need to decide whether or not he fits into their plans for 2014.

Keisel obviously isn’t ready to call it a career, but there aren’t likely to be many teams ringing his phone early in free agency because of his age. As for the Steelers, they have to first decide if they are going to re-sign Ziggy Hood and Al Woods, so Keisel figures to be way down their list of priorities.

Should Keisel indeed wind up being re-signed, you would have to think that it would be close to the veteran minimum amount and with no guarantee that he starts. The Steelers could use his veteran leadership, however, as well as his ability to give 500 quality snaps next season. We’ll see.

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Im sure he does, but I don’t see anything more than a 1yr vet deal in his future

Kevin Gobleck

As long as it is vet minimum i would be more than happy for him to play

steellife007

I would rather have him than Hood….even if it’s only for another yr or two as oppose to Hood for 4yrs…and I hope they don’t keep both personally so I say sign him up for the vet minimum(I know he would take it to finish with the steelers). Hood’s draft pick always bothered me anyway. I remember that draft like yesterday and I didn’t think Hood fit that great into our scheme than(due to his limitations in height, arm length, and lack of moves) and I still don’t think he fits this scheme. His skill set is much better suited for a 4-3 defensive tackle…especially a DT in a cover 2 scheme. Time to go!

Iron Cadet

Bring him back so that he can mentor hageman 🙂

Bradys_Dad

100% in agreement. I also think that Ziggy is worthy of being re-signed. Da Beard brings a whole lot of leadership and experience to a DL that is still in a toddler stage.

PA2AK

If Steelers are going to continue holding on to players well into their 2nd and 3rd contracts they need to start leveling with themselves and the players. If you want to stay…your price isn’t going up. Aside from a franchise QB (which is risky in itself) how many players truly exceed expectations beyond their EARLY 30’s? Would love to hang on to leadership and class acts like Keisel…but we can’t to it at the sacrifice of keeping young players (i.e. Keeping Ike Taylor and letting Lewis go…sure would be nice to look at Allen and Lewis getting ready to start next year huh?) Not only with Salary cap issues, but this affects development of the younger players. since the last two superbowls it seems like young guys only begin to get playing time when their rookie contract is just about up.

In Keisel’s case, with a vet min salary I don’t mind it. We don’t have much DL depth and there are plenty of other holes to fill as is. He’d be a player that takes the cut too.

MC

Behind Heyward, Kiesel was the next best lineman hands down last season. I definitely think he has at least one more year of productive play but i guess it depends on what happens with Hood and Woods. I’d like to see the beard back!

John

Steelers should re-sign Heyward, Woods, and Keisel and let Hood explore his opportunities assuming Keisel can be signed at the right price. This is the type of short-term fix, while hoping to generate depth, that we need to do. Signing Hood for any significant dollars or length of time appears to be a dubious option.

dgh57

Time for Arnfelt to get his shot at the big time but at Hoods(I’ve seen enough) expense not Keisel’s!

Nolrog

I’m totally OK with that. I would definitely bring him back at the vet min. That would buy a little extra time to find his replacement.

blackandgoldBullion

Hallelujah, brother! This sounds very plausible. Throw in Arnfelt and some other young guys for competition and away we go.

gene mann

I think Arnfelt gets a spot but The beard at a 1 year veteran min will be good for this team we can use his veteran presence to help with the young Dl.Arnfelt Williams and whomever we draft can learn under Brett.

Guess what that does…it means we can ignore this position come the draft. It diminishes our need list…and THAT is a good thing.

243546

Maybe the Beard has another year or two in him, but at 36 years old, it’s much more likely that he has a steep decline in play, and/or gets hurt. That’s a big risk for a team that doesn’t have much in the way of cap space.

Chad H

I’m with you. When they drafted him I sat there and said “What just happened.” I’m not anti Hood but he is a 4-3 DT.

Chad H

Tuitt

cencalsteeler

Reading between the lines of Rooneys comments says vet minimum IMO.

JC Chuta

Nice try Brett! Only way Steelers will bring you back is on an “incentive based” contract which will pay you nearly nothing…if you don’t produce. If you’re cool with that, we’d all love to have you (and the Beard) back!

alex

gonna be interesting to see what some of our steeler veterans at the end of there careers give back in the way of compensation to end there careers here…ie, Taylor, Troy, Keisel,

given the teams proven propensity to slash and burn contracts and players whatever there names are, ie, Ward/Harrison,etc…

its another insallment of, How the Steelers Turn, coming to a front office near you!

MC

Yeah im leaning towards that also. It’s a shame we used a first rounder on Hood that year and now will most likely let him walk but he will come at a bigger price than kiesel. Therefore sign Kiesel for another couple of years and hopefully find Kiesels’ replacement in the upcoming draft or next years draft if Arnfelt isn’t the guy or Mclendon can’t move over to DE after drafting a NT